NYSDEC Region 8 / Hemlock Lake Located in southeast Livingston
County, Hemlock Lake lies 25 miles south of Rochester. Hemlock is
one of the two Finger Lakes whose shorelines are virtually
undeveloped. --from NYS DEC.

Hemlock-Canadice
UMP The Hemlock-Canadice Unit Management Plan (UMP) covers the
6,684-acre Hemlock-Canadice State Forest located in Livingston and
Ontario Counties. (Hemlock Park, the water treatment facilities and
parking field for the fairgrounds are not part of the Hemlock
Canadice State Forest, and will not be included in this UMP.) In
addition, the fishing access sites along the Springwater Creek,
Hemlock Outlet Creek, etc., are not included.

The purpose of a unit management plan is twofold: 1) to define
management goals and objectives for state land and, 2) to prepare a
ten-year plan of action to achieve those objectives.

It is DEC's policy to manage state lands for multiple
benefits to serve the people of New York State. The Hemlock-Canadice
Unit Management Plan is a ten-year plan for the multiple use of
about 6,684 acres of state forest. Management will be considered
over a broad geographical area, not only to ensure the biological
diversity and protection of the ecosystem, but also to optimize the
many benefits to the public that these lands provide, including the
protection of the public drinking water for the City of Rochester
and other communities.

It's important to monitor the health of our Finger Lakes, which is a
part of our regions environmental health.

2013

Hemlock-Canadice's watershed moment The City of Rochester
sold approximately 7,000 acres of land around Hemlock and
Canadice lakes to the state in 2010 to make sure that the
waterfronts remain safe from development. And yet the lakes are
currently at the center of a controversy about gas and oil
drilling. That's because the state's proposed plan to manage the
property — designated the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest —
doesn't explicitly rule out drilling on or under the land. The
lakes are Rochester's primary source of drinking water. In
response, the statewide Adirondack Mountain Club and State
Senator Ted O'Brien are drafting legislation to classify the
land as a unique area. The designation would strengthen
protections for the forest, including banning gas and oil
extraction on or beneath the forest's surface. "If there's
anything that the people in the greater Monroe County area and
surrounding counties don't want is that they don't want to see
any kind of oil and gas extraction from the Hemlock-Canadice
State Forest," says Neil Woodworth, the Adirondack Mountain
Club's executive director. (August 7, 2013)
Rochester City
Newspaper [more on Hemlock Lake
and Canadice Lake in our area]

The Hemlock-Canadice balancing act Anti-fracking groups in
the Rochester area want the state Department of Environmental
Conservation to state strongly and unequivocally that it won't
allow drilling on the Hemlock-Canadice forest lands. And they're
pushing for the state to make the property either a unique area
or a state nature and historic preserve — defined designations
that limit use of the land. The restrictions include
prohibitions on gas and oil drilling, the activists say. But
City of Rochester officials say that such high levels of
protections and restrictions could interfere with routine
maintenance of the property, such as erosion control measures
and efforts to diversify tree populations and vegetation. (May
09, 2013)
Rochester City Newspaper [more on
Fracking and Canadice and
Hemlock Lakes]

State releases plan for Hemlock, Canadice The State
Department of Environmental Conservation has released a draft
plan outlining how it will manage its land around Canadice and
Hemlock Lakes. The DEC will accept comments on the draft unit
management plan – available athttp://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/68822.html –
through April 15. And it has scheduled a public information
session for 6:30 p.m. on March 14 at Springwater Fire Hall, 8145
South Main Street, Springwater. DEC representatives will give a
presentation at 7 p.m. Hemlock and Canadice are the only two
Finger Lakes with undeveloped shorelines. Rochester uses the
lakes for its drinking water supply and started buying the land
surrounding them in 1896. In 2010, the state bought
approximately 6,700 acres of land, now known as the
Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, from the city. (February 21,
2013) Rochester City Newspaper [more on
Canadice Lake and
Hemlock Lake in our area]

City of Rochester |
City of Rochester, State Preserve
Last Two Undeveloped (Thursday, July 1, 2010) –
Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy and State Environmental
Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today that New York State
has completed the purchase of Hemlock and Canadice lakes from
the City of Rochester for $13.7 million. The transaction, which
has been in the works for over two years, will preserve and
protect the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes – which have
supplied water to Rochester for more than 130 years. “I’m
pleased to see the finalization of the sale of Hemlock and
Candice lakes, which will result in revenue for the City and
significant reductions in the City’s property tax burden,” said
Mayor Duffy. “I want to thank Gov. David Paterson and
Commissioner Grannis for their foresight. This is a legacy for
future generations of New Yorkers that will ensure that the
pristine lakes and lands surrounding them remain undeveloped,
protecting Rochester’s public water supply and guaranteeing that
this jewel is preserved forever wild for the enjoyment of
visitors and residents.” (July 1, 2010)
City
of Rochester
[more on
Hemlock Lake and
Canadiice lakes]

Two Finger Lakes now in hands of NY -
Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Finger Lakes, N.Y. — Forever wild.
That is the celebrated outcome of a years-long effort to
preserve Canadice and Hemlock lakes. The state Department of
Environmental Conservation on Thursday completed its $13.7
million acquisition of the two smallest Finger Lakes, which
supply drinking water to the city of Rochester. State DEC
Commissioner Pete Grannis said the acquisition is the most
important land purchase the state has made in more than a
generation — outside of the Adirondacks and Catskills. The
transaction will preserve and protect the last two undeveloped
Finger Lakes, which have supplied water to Rochester for more
than 130 years. (July 2, 2010)
Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
[more on
Hemlock Lake and
Canadiice lakes]

Non-profit group to offer land to state - Rochester, NY - MPNnow
Canadice, N.Y. — CONSERVATION: New York could end up with 8,435
acres around Canadice and Hemlock lakes, if two major land deals
are sealed. The Nature Conservancy will offer to sell more than
1,000 acres in Canadice and Hemlock to the state after New York
completes a long-anticipated deal to buy the Canadice and
Hemlock lakes watershed from the City of Rochester. (Dec 15, 08)
- Rochester, NY - MPNnow

Closing in on a lake deal - Rochester, NY - MPNnow Canadice,
N.Y. — Canadice is ready to adopt a new zoning law this month
with the hope that it be completely forgotten five minutes
later. It’s all part of the last-minute red tape before the
state can buy the 7,100 acres of land around Hemlock and
Canadice lakes from the city of Rochester. The last wild Finger
Lakes would then fall under the stewardship of the state
Department of Conservation, protected from development for all
time. (Dec 4, 08) - Rochester,
NY - MPNnow

Hemlock Lake For Sale?
- There's a new addition to Hemlock
Lake which opens Saturday. The Nature Conservancy will unveil a
hiking trail on the lake. The trail is one and half miles with a
three-quarter spur trail. It's called "Rob's Trail" in honor of
a former trustee of the conservancy who recently passed away.
Meantime the rest of Hemlock Lake is still up for sale. (June
30, 08) RochesterHomePage.net

2007

Rochester
to Albany: Let’s make a deal - Rochester, NY - MPNnow All
other players are out of the game as the city of Rochester and
New York state prepare to negotiate a price for the 7,100 acres
the city owns around Canadice and Hemlock lakes. Until recently,
city leaders had said they were considering all options. But the
latest statements from the mayor’s office and the state
Department of Environmental Conservation suggest that something
environmentalists have feared — the sale to a developer — is off
the table. (Dec 17, 07) Messenger Post Newspapers

DEC chief visits Hemlock, a plus for possible watershed sale—
New York state's environmental commissioner paid an unannounced
visit Thursday to Hemlock Lake, taking in the grandeur of one of
the last undeveloped Finger Lakes. He came away impressed — a
development that can only be seen as positive by advocates of
the notion that the state should purchase and preserve forever
the land around Hemlock and Canadice lakes that now is owned by
the city of Rochester. (October 5, 2007)
Democrat & Chronicle

MPNnow.com: New DEC chief wants talks on Hemlock, Canadice
watersheds A spokesman for the city of Rochester insists
that it’s not necessarily a sale negotiation. ROCHESTER — The
new head of the state Department of Environmental Conservation
has asked Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy to open negotiations on
the future of city-owned watershed lands around Canadice and
Hemlock lakes. A letter to Duffy from DEC Commissioner Alexander
Grannis confirms statements made in April by state Parks and DEC
officials at a Sierra Club meeting in Rochester. (May 21, 07)
Messenger Post Newspapers

www.whec.com - City of Rochester and Monroe County Water
Authority work on new water agreement Talks continue between
the City of Rochester and the Monroe County Water Authority on a
new water-sharing agreement. The existing 30-year deal expires
next year. One of the options on the table is a county takeover
of the city system. Most city residents get their water from the
Cobbs Hill reservoir. It's piped in from Hemlock and Canadice
lakes. The county system gets its water from Lake Ontario. The
city and county already share water. In fact there are more than
50 interconnection points between the city and the water
authority. (May 8, 07) www.whec.com - Front Page

Watershed's future on line - Forum focuses on finding way to
shield Canadice, Hemlock lakes forever — Environmentalists, city
and state officials believe the time is right for Rochester to
sell 7,100 acres of land to the state if the parties can agree
on a price and use of the land — despite the area being an
abundant, natural supply of drinking water for the past 130
years. About 200 people attended a Sierra Club environmental
forum Thursday at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester to
hear about the watershed of Hemlock and Canadice lakes, about 30
miles south of Rochester. (April 20, 2007)
Democrat & Chronicle

FINGER LAKES: City would like state to buy Hemlock and Canadice
- News & Opinion - Rochester City Newspaper Could the state
become the owner of the city-owned Hemlock and Canadice Lakes
and the land around them? Mayor Bob Duffy that would be "the
best of both worlds." Duffy had hoped to have the properties
appraised, but at their meeting on Tuesday night, City
Councilmembers turned him down. Their concern: that the
appraisal might open the door to selling the land to developers.
Duffy said last night that his push for an appraisal doesn't
mean he is rushing to put the prime Finger Lakes real estate on
the market. But, he said, not knowing the value of the city's
assets is bad management. (April 19, 2007)
Rochester City
Newspaper

City Council rejects watershed appraisal
- Members wary of
Hemlock, Canadice development — City Council rejected an
administration request Tuesday to appraise the Hemlock and
Canadice lakes watershed. Some members said they will not
consider the question again unless development is off the table.
Mayor Robert Duffy and his staff never have indicated an
interest in development, but have said all options are being
considered as the city reviews its water system. Deputy Mayor
Patty Malgieri said that also meant having data necessary to
review those options. (April 18, 2007)
Democrat & Chronicle

Hemlock, Canadice proposal defended
- Appraisals of
waterfront land will keep all city options open — City Hall
insists a plan to appraise the watershed properties surrounding
Hemlock and Canadice lakes does not indicate a plan to sell the
land to developers. Rather, it is the first step in an effort to
place a dollar value on the entire water system, which is needed
information as the city continues to evaluate the system's
future, Deputy Mayor Patty Malgieri said. One possible outcome
is that the state buys the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes and
creates a permanent preserve. (April 15, 2007)
Democrat & Chronicle

2002

Democrat & Chronicle: City agrees not to cut Hemlock Lake trees— The city of Rochester has agreed to a two-year
moratorium on logging 212 acres of trees along Hemlock Lake. The
action -- outlined in an April 9 letter to the local Sierra Club
-- temporarily halts a controversy that brewed last year over
the fate of hemlock and oak trees, some of them 400 years old.
Rochester owns a 7,200-acre watershed in Livingston and Ontario
counties, most of it wooded. (April 24, 2002)
DemocratandChronicle.com

If you live near Hemlock Lake perhaps one of these resources can be
a way for you to become involved with your lake's health.

Hemlock TreesShould we cut old growth trees in
Hemlock? Important Rochester-area Concern: Grab this week's City
(Greater Rochester's Alternative Newsweekly, Volume 31, Number
7, November 7-13, 2001) Pg. 6 What In The Blazes, Hemlock Lake
And The Loggers. by Jack Bradigan Spula. In order to understand
completely the issue surrounding the old growth forest trees
that the city owns around Hemlock Lake and the questions as to
whether or not to cull them, you must read this article.

Hemlock
Lake How to get there: From Rochester
take Route 15A south passing through the village of Hemlock.
Turn right on Rix Hill Road approximately one mile south of
intersection of Route 15A with Route 20A. Immediately turn left
off of Rix Hill Road onto East Lake Road. Approximately 1.1
miles from turn off onto East Lake Road is the boat launch.

APPENDIX O: HEMLOCK WATER FILTRATION PLANTCITY OF
ROCHESTER WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM Rochester's Upland Water Supply
system includes Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake. The City owns
over 7000 acres of the watershed surrounding these lakes. This
buffer provides the best water supply protection possible. City
ownership of this land has created a unique environmental
setting as these are the only Finger Lakes with natural,
undeveloped shorelines. Water is pumped from Hemlock Lake and
flows by gravity from Canadice Lake to the filtration plant on
the northern shore of Hemlock Lake. After treatment in the
filtration plant, water flows by gravity for a total distance of
29 miles through the conduit system and Rush Reservoir to the
Highland and Cobbs Hill reservoirs within city limits. The
elevation of the water surface in the two City reservoirs is
high enough to provide water pressure to most homes without
pumping.

Hemlock Lake Water System So proclaimed
the newspaper headline on January 24, 1876 as it announced the
arrival of Hemlock Lake water into Mt. Hope Reservoir (today
named Highland Reservoir). Finally, after more than three
decades of political bickering and aborted construction
attempts, Rochester had an abundant supply of pure wholesome
drinking water. While an asset such as this may barely raise an
eyebrow today, in 1876 this was truly a glorious event for the
70,000 citizens of Rochester.